The first gift

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son...”

Philippians 2:5-8

Christ Jesus, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

He existed in the form of God

John 1:1, 14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

He emptied Himself

Luke 1:30-31, 35

The angel said to her, ... “Mary... you will conceive in your womb... The Holy Spirit will come upon you.”

Matthew 1:23

“Call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

John 17:5

“O Father... the glory which I had with You before the world was.”

He humbled Himself

Matthew 1:21

“Call his name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

John 1:29

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

QUESTIONS FOR LIFE

1.  Do you think that people think very much about what happened to Jesus nine months before he was born? Have you thought much about it?

2. Please read these passages:

Philippians 2:6-7  Jesus Christ, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

 John 1:1, 14  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

 Luke 1:30-31, 35 Then the angel said to her …”Mary, you will conceive in your womb The Holy Spirit will come upon you.”

 John 17:5 “O Father…the glory which I had with You before the world was.”

 3.How do the words in these passages affect your view of Jesus and how you feel about Him?

 4. Please read these passages:

Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

 Matthew 1:21 “Call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

 John 1:29 “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

 5. How do these words affect your view of Jesus and how you feel about Him?

 6. Please read this passage: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

 7. In what way is your understanding of John 3:16 influenced by a better understanding of what happened to Jesus nine months before He was born?